Somerton Middle School’s Liam Rowley, ten, scaling one of the obstacles. Picture by Laura Holme.
ATHLETICSTHREE Island middle schools took part in the first ever Middle Schools’ Duathlon competition at Solent Middle School.
Students from Christ the King College and Solent and Somerton middle schools took part in the challenge, which included a run around the school’s fitness trail.
The route consisted of six obstacles spaced over a 500m course, including balance beams and climbing gates.
Pupils then cycled around a 600m course before tagging their next team mate in a relay-style race.
The under-11 races were dominated by Somerton Middle School, which also won the under-13 boys’ race. The under-13 girls’ race was won by Christ the King College, after some impressive cycling.
The trial event was an extension of the ongoing cycling programme being delivered to the schools by Carisbrooke Schools’ Sports Partnership.
Ian Rock, from the partnership, said: “We wanted to create something which linked together the different strands of our work and offered pupils a new and exciting event, which could motivate them to become more active.”
Organisers hope to expand the event next year by including more schools and organising an adapted version for primary schools.
• More pictures in the Friday, April 3, County Press
Cross country championships
PETE Young was just five seconds away from winning a medal at the British Masters Cross Country Championships.
After some outstanding winter road racing and cross country efforts, the Ryde Harrier secured fourth place in the 60 to 65 age category.
Young made the long journey to Ruthin School in Denbighshire, North Wales, to compete against some of the country’s best athletes.
After a very fast start, in the two-lap, 8km course, Young joined the lead group, with last year’s winner and local rival Malcolm Renyard, from Hampshire’s Hardley Runners, at the front.
Despite finishing strongly, Young could not get past northern champion Robert Tintinger, of Rotherham, who held his position for the bronze medal.
Young finished in 33min 36sec, just 22 seconds behind defending champion Renyard. His performance will be noted by the England selectors for future international races.
Aiya Abe, 17, was also competing in a national championship, running for Hampshire and Vectis schools in the English Schools Championships, staged in Leicestershire.
Aiya ran a rutted two-lap, 4.5km course, as part of a team of eight.
More than 350 senior girls from 40 counties competed and Aiya made her usual fast start on the first circuit.
She continued to run well into lap two and finished in 79th place, in 19min 58sec. She was the fourth Hampshire runner home but her team finished an agonising seven points adrift of a bronze medal.
Aiya will now turn her attention back to the track as she is competing in the Island Games, in Aland, this summer.
• More athletics reports in the Friday, April 3, County Press.